Chapter 4

"Lupin! Where are you?" After breakfast Lealah had done what her brother told her and gone to meet him outside. The problem was he was no where to be found. She listened closely for his answer, but all she heard was chirping birds. Then...

"Aw, come on Fuji-cakes, you know you want me."

"That's Lupins' voice!" Lealah crept over to the bushes where she heard the voice. She pulled apart the bushes and saw her brother and a beautiful brown haired woman sitting under a tree on a rock. Lupin tried to kiss her, but the woman slapped him across the face. The force of the blow knocked him face down on the ground. Lealah thought she almost cracked a rib trying to keep from laughing.

"Lupin, can we please stay focused on the task at hand!"

"Aw, Fujiko..." He tried to pull her towards him, but this time she smacked him in the back of his head with the butt of her gun. Then she walked away muttering curses at him. Lealah couldn't hold back her laughter again.

"You saw all that?" Lupins' face was as red as his sports jacket.

"You haven't changed one bit since I was six! Hahahahaha!" Her face was red for a different reason.

"Shut up and watch me." He put on a pair of standard, Government Issue handcuffs. "I knew these would come in handy someday. Old Pops left them one time he tried to catch me. Now, your first lesson from me is handcuff escaping. All you do for this type of handcuff is make your hand as narrow as possible and... there!" Lupin pulled his hands through. "Now you try." He went back to the tree and sat down leaning against the tree with his arms folded behind his head. "This will take a while."

"Jerk," she muttered. Lupin just smiled and shut his eyes. After two hours she finally got out of the things. She looked over at Lupin triumphantly, but he was asleep against the tree. She grinned at him and went back out of the clearing of bushes and found that they were staying in an apartment building. She walked up the stairs and found their apartment. As she filled a glass with ice water, Jigen came in. "What are you doing?" he asked, only mildly interested.

"Lupin fell asleep against a tree. I'm just going to wake him up." Jigen laughed.

"I seriously doubt he fell asleep. He's a master of disguises, and rarely, excuse the pun, falls asleep on the job."

"Well, if he isn't asleep, I'll just give him the water. If he is, I'll give it to him when he wakes up." She began to walk back outside. Once she got to the clearing, she found Lupin was gone. She scratched her head and looked around. Just then, someone grabbed her from behind! She threw the water over her shoulder, and thew whoever grabbed her forward. She realized only when he was in the air that her attacker was Lupin! Unfortunately, he landed against a tree.

"Serves you right! What the hell was that for!" Lupin was stunned and wet, but still able to answer.

"I just wanted to see how good you were with sneak attacks," he rubbed his head where it had hit the tree. "Seems like you're fine. What was the water for?"

"I was going to give it to you. I guess not now."

"Oops. Well, how bout lunch?" he asked.

"Lemee guess, that woman is at the apartment." She grinned up at him. He grinned back.

"Her name is Fujiko. She was the driver last night."

"So that's why you didn't ride in the back with me. You must like her a lot." She looked a little hurt at this. As they walked back to the apartment, they heard something rustling in the bushes. Lupin cautiously walked over to the bush, gun raised. Lealah retrieved the glass and held it over her head. When he gave her a furtive look, she shook her head and made her hands in the figure of a gun. He cursed himself for not giving her one and pulled back the bushes. Fujiko stared back at him.

"Fujiko? Don't scare me like that!" Lupin relaxed and put his gun in its' holster. "So, how long you been there?"

"The whole two hours. Lupin, you're sister is either very strong, or you are extremely light."

"Probably couldn't do it again. Adrenaline rush, ya know?" Lealah held out her hand. "I'm Lealah Lupin III. Pleased to meet you, Fujiko."

Fujiko took her hand and shook it. "Are you sure you spent the first six years of your life with Lupin III? Your manners are much better than his."

"Actually, Lupin was a very good guardian. He only left for my own protection. He made sure I went to a good family. And it wasn't his fault he didn't come back for me for nine years."

This got Lupins' attention. "'It wasn't my fault...' Lealah, why were you in Georgia, and why didn't you mail me when you moved?"

Lealah looked to the ground. "I'm sorry Lupin. After you broke out of jail, the Cojers' knew you would try to come back for me. So they moved to Georgia and didn't let me tell you our new address. When we got there, I tried mailing you, but you were already gone. I guess they didn't want me to become a thief too."

When she had finished her explanation, they were at the apartment.

"Ladies first," Lupin said with an impish grin. As soon as Fujiko walked through the door, he slammed it shut. Right in Lealahs' face. She heard the sound of the palm of a hand coming in contact with someone's face. Grumbling, Lupin opened the door and let her walk through. The side of his face had a hand shaped red mark on it.

"Ow," Lealah winced, grinning.

"Shut up and go up stairs."

*****

"What a meal! I had no idea you could order take out pizza in Japan."

"You can't. I had to order it from Italy." Lupin grinned at his sister. "The delivery charge and tip were murder."

"Ha ha, it is to laugh. Actually, pizza originated in America. So what's my next lesson, Lupin?"

"Thank you Alex Trebec. Marksmanship with Jigen."

"Cool. So Jigen, how do you feel about gun control?" She smiled cleverly at Jigen. He let out a short quick laugh.

"Overrated. Have you ever shot a gun?"

"Of course. Who hasn't?" She laughed nervously.

"OK, come on, time to earn your keep." Jigen led her out of the door to a larger clearing in the woods next to the apartment building. He handed her a pistol.

"OK, while you were goofing off with your brother, I was setting up a makeshift shooting range."

"What kind of gun is this?" she asked him. "It looks familiar, but I just can't place it."

"It's a Walther, like Lupins'. Now, try to hit the cans."

Lealah raised the gun, closed one eye, and aimed. POW! The kick was so powerful that her hand and the gun flew over her head behind her where Jigen was standing. Her finger slipped on the trigger and fired. Jigen ducked just in time.

"What the hell was that?! I thought you said you shot a gun before!"

"I have! Just not a pistol," she said sheepishly.

"What did you shoot then?" he asked, still yelling.

"A twelve gauge shotgun," she muttered. Jigen reached into his jacket and pulled out a black fedora.

"Here, it'll help you aim. Now, hold it with both hands to steady it. Not like that, you'll injure your hand. Try cupping your hand under the butt. OK, now try hitting the can." This time, she still missed, but she didn't lose control of it either.

"Good, but keep both your eyes open. Use the brim of the hat to aim. That's what it's for." She opened both her eyes and aimed one more time. Finally, she hit the can!

"How long did it take me, Jigen?"

"Just keep practicing, we'll stop after one more hour." He smiled inwardly. He hadn't done this since he was in the Mafia teaching other members kids to shoot. His smile faded. Don't want to take that trip down Memory Lane. It had been almost ten years since he left the Mafia for Lupin, but he still remembered every innocent he ever shot, every kid he trained to become a ruthless killer, every rape he ever witnessed. He had even witnessed Lupin II ultimate demise. Of course, neither Lupin III or Lealah had any clue of this and he planned to keep it that way. Still, the knowledge of this haunted him in his sleep. Everyone who knew him personally knew he was Lupins' bodyguard as well as partner. No one ever dared call him this, though even Lupin knew it to be true. Still, Lupin never could figure out why Jigen always put his butt on the line to bail him out of jail or a bad situation. Jigen owed Lupin for the memory of his father. If only he had stopped King from shooting him, Lealah might not be here. He felt he owed it to Lealah to make sure she passed the trial.

"Hey Jigen! HEY JIGEN!" This snapped his train of thoughts.

"Huh? What? Oh, yeah it's time to go in." Lealah started to hand back the fedora. "Keep it, I have plenty. But give me the gun, you might shoot your pants out accidentally with it or something."

"Wow, Jigen. Thanks. Thanks a lot!" She blushed as she handed him the Walther. No guy had ever given her anything, except her brother and foster father, but they didn't count. Jigen just lowered his hat farther over his eyes and gruffly uttered "Yeah, well," as if he didn't care. But truth be told, he did care. He would not turn this kid into some killing machine. He would not screw this one up. This training was as much as a test for him as it was for her.

Lealah heard his reply and said nothing. She understood people, and she had a hunch Jigen had been through some tough times, with or without her brother. She didn't know exactly what those rough times had been, but she was smart enough not to ask.

In the hallway to the apartment, they ran into Goemon. He looked worried and his clothes smelled of gas. "Goemon, buddy, what the hell happened to you?" "Jigen, come here. I need to talk to you in private." Goemon walked him over to a corner away from Lealah and said something to him so she couldn't hear.

"WHAT! HOW THE HELL DID ZENIGATA FIND US?! DAMN IT!"

"Jigen what happened? Where's Lupin?"

*****

"Hahahahahahaha! I finally caught you Lupin! And you can't do a damn thing about it. Hahahahahahaha!" Lupin couldn't move or even speak due to the stun grenade Pops threw to catch him, but he was still conscious. He just glared at Zenigata. He finally got me. I can't believe it. Dammit all! I wonder if Jigen knows yet. "Whoo-hoo-hoo-hee-hee-hahahaha! This time you'll be dead in a week you bastard! Unlike you, I learn from my mistakes!" Lupin was in the passengers' seat of Zenigatas' police van with no way of escaping because of the gas on the way to the most heavily guarded prison in Japan. All he could think about is if Jigen and Lealah had left just 30 minutes later, she would be in there with him. He silently thanked his friend for be so annoyingly punctual and all about business.

When they arrived at the prison, Lupin was strip searched for only the second time in his life. He always hated this part but just like last time, they didn't find anything on him, not even his Walther P-38. Zenigata wondered about this but didn't worry too much, how many places could you hide a gun like that when you are butt naked? Actually, the reason Zenigata couldn't find Lupins' gun on him is because he didn't have it.

"Alright, give him some clothes and take him to solitary. I don't want another prison break."

*****

"Alright, so that's the plan. Now, everyone turn in we have a long night ahead of us." Lupin had once said that if he was ever captured or killed, Jigen was the boss. He planned to keep his word and be good boss.

"I just don't understand. He must have heard the cops coming. Why didn't he hold them back with his gun?" Then she remembered what Jigen had said earlier. "It's a Walther, like Lupins'." She grabbed Jigen by his jacket collar. "That gun wasn't like Lupins'," she said in a quiet dangerous tone. "THAT GUN WAS LUPINS'!"

"Yes, he told me to use it. I needed to keep my magnum..." She released him. He straightened tie and started to walk away.

"Why?"

"By the time you handed me the gun, I cocked it, and aimed it we would be dead if someone snuck up on us and he was worth his money." She felt horrible. It was her fault. Again. Jigen turned and looked at her. When he saw her face he tried to comfort her. "Hey, it's not your fault. If anything it's mine. I should have found a gun for him to use." He thought for a minute. "How about we go visit him? I bet he's fine. Pops wants him behind bars, not dead. First, we make a trip to the nearest gun show though.

****

"Inspector, you need to get down here now," a voice said over Zenigatas' office intercom. "Lupins' accomplices have come to see him."

Zenigata walked down the stairs to come face to face with Jigen.

"We're here to see Lupin." Standing next to Jigen was a girl in a black overcoat and black fedora, just like his.

"Sure." He took out a police tray. "Just put your gun on the tray. OK, now the one in your jacket, the one in your sock, the one under your hat, the other one in your jacket, the one in your pocket, and the other pocket. Did I miss one?"

"Yeah, the other one in my other sock." Jigen grinned a smile no one could see. His hat was too low.

Zenigata rolled his eyes. He turned to Goemon.

"Sword. Tray. Now." Goemon just looked at him showing no emotion. "Goemon, you can't get in if you don't hand over your sword. It will be returned to you in the same state it was in. Except not as sharp."

"Bye, Jigen." Jigen grabbed the sword from under his arm, slammed it on the tray, and dragged Goemon towards the door. "Let me go, Jigen!"

Lealah started to walk after them but was stopped bye the cop.

"Aren't you a little young to be one of Lupins' girlfriends?" Zenigata grabbed her shoulder.

"Lupins' girlfriend? My father would kill..."

"And just who is your father, girl?" Zenigata had them now. Lealahs' eyes flitted to Jigen and back again. He stared blankly at her.

"Huh? Oh... uh, that'd be me." Zenigatas' mouth fell open.

"HAHAHAHAHAHA! Who'd you have to threaten to get her to-HAHAHAHA! So, kid what's your name?" Jigen tensed and started to edge to the tray with his guns on it. He knew he'd never make it, but...

"Mitsukia Jigen." Jigens' mouth fell open. Then he grinned. She was her brothers' sister.

"HAHAHAHA! You know that means 'Angelic Sharpshooter' don't you? Any kid of Diasuke Jigens' is no ange-huhhhh!...ohhhhh...ow." He fell over because Lealah had kneed him in the groin. Lealah checked to see if he was OK. His eyes were open, but he was out cold. Jigen raised his hat and stared at her through wide eyes.

"Well, he was starting to piss me off." Lealah lowered her fedora over her eyes and crossed her arms.

Jigen turned around without lowering his hat or his eyes. "Let's go before he wakes up." Not even Goemon resisted.